City Council Approves $3.6 Million Tourism Marketing Contract to Arizona Firm

Expressing uniform frustration with the selection process and lack of information, councilors still vote 8-1 to approve the multi-million-dollar contract

CITY HALL – Duluth City Councilors approve a $3.6 million tourism marketing contract to Arizona-based Madden Media, in an 8 to 1 vote at Monday’s meeting.

Councilors made it known that they felt their “hands are tied” before voting on Duluth’s 2-year tourism marketing contract. Arizona-based Madden Media was the winner of the city’s request for proposal process earlier this year. City Attorney Terri Lehr has said that if the council voted against the RFPs findings, which are legally binding, it could open the city up to legal backlash.

With the threat of legal repercussions, councilors also pointed to an apparent lack of transparency and information before the vote.

Citizens have also expressed frustration with money going to an out-of-state firm when local alternatives exist. Frustration has also centered around Mayor Roger Reinert’s campaign promise to use local agencies for tourism marketing.

The council approved the contract in an 8 to 1 vote. The lone “Nay” vote came from Councilor Wendy Durwachter.

Prior to the vote, Durwachter said, “I received mixed information, about those processes. Another reason why I cannot confidently say this process was done. Correct me. And so with that, I will be voting no.”